*<buy name="Double Knot Carpets" alt="" address="Corner of Cangiz Topel Cad and Namik Kemal Cad" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Run by 20-something locals, this carpet shop is a great place to find a carpet for cheap (prices start under 100 Euro) or just to have a cup of tea. Unlike the shops of Istanbul, the shopkeepers won't pressure you into buying anything, and are glad to offer recommendations on local restaurants and bars or just have a chat.

*<buy name="Double Knot Carpets" alt="" address="Corner of Cangiz Topel Cad and Namik Kemal Cad" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Run by 20-something locals, this carpet shop is a great place to find a carpet for cheap (prices start under 100 Euro) or just to have a cup of tea. Unlike the shops of Istanbul, the shopkeepers won't pressure you into buying anything, and are glad to offer recommendations on local restaurants and bars or just have a chat.

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Mehmet and Alibaba Carpet Shop - When visiting Selçuk take the time to stop by Mehmet and Alibaba's carpet shop. Centrally located, right next to the Ephesus Museum, this shop is easy to find and worth it too. Here, at this family run business, you will find the best carpets for the best prices with personable sales people - no pressure here. İf you get hungry from the all the thinking over which carpet(s) are the best for you, stop in next door at the family's Trip Advisor award winning restaruant.

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==Buy==

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*<buy name="Mehmet and Alibaba Carpet Shop" When visiting Selçuk take the time to stop by Mehmet and Alibaba's carpet shop. Centrally located, right next to the Ephesus Museum, this shop is easy to find and worth it too. Here, at this family run business, you will find the best carpets for the best prices with personable sales people - no pressure here. İf you get hungry from the all the thinking over which carpet(s) are the best for you, stop in next door at the family's Trip Advisor award winning restaruant.

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Revision as of 15:49, 27 June 2012

Contents

Understand

South of Izmir and just east of the coastal town of Kuşadası, Selçuk is visited mostly because of its close proximity to the ruins of the Roman city of Ephesus—some of the best preserved in the country—and the services the town has to offer, although the town centre itself has some historical sights to spend some time at.

Get in

By plane

Although there is a small airport in Selçuk, it is only open for private planes. So the nearest option for commercial flights is Adnan Menderes Airport in Izmir, which lies 55 km north of Selçuk.

From the airport, you have two options for getting to Selçuk: you can take trains which call at the station directly on the airport grounds (4 TL), and which connect airport with Selçuk and points south six times daily (see "By train" below for a timetable). Be warned that the train can be very packed, though, so be ready for the possibility of not being able to get on.

A quicker but more expensive option is to take a dolmuş, which is more like a big van rather than a bus. They depart from Selçuk – Ephesus Otogar, which lies 2 km away from the airport (a taxi ride from the airport there costs 10 TL). This otogar is not of the bus station type found in the rest of the country—it's just a bus stop with some benches. Take the mini van signed Selçuk – Ephesus on its front. Ask around if someone in charge is nearby. From here, a ride to Selçuk costs 7 TL, and takes around an hour. The van will stop in many stops along the way, including some remote areas, and just stay on till the very end.

By train

It's possible to take trains [1] from Izmir's Basmane Station six times daily (at 08:10AM, 10:25AM, 2:25PM, 3:30PM, 5:40PM, and 7:10PM), which call at the airport station about 20 minutes later, and arrive at Selçuk station about an hour and half after their initial departure (Selçuk is not their last station, though, so be sure not to miss it).

By bus

There are also dolmuşes from the city of Izmir itself, as well as buses from Pamukkale, which cost 20 TL and serve drinks and snacks along the way.

The local otogar of Selçuk is located in the center of the village.

It is possible to take an overnight bus that departs from Istanbul at midnight and arrives here at approx. 8 a.m. This service is run by Varan bus lines and costs 70 TL as of the summer of 2011.

Get around

There are mini-buses (dolmus) to Şirince and Ephesus. To go to the House of Mary you may need to take a taxi .

Rented motorbikes or scooters can be a fun way to discover the surroundings of Selçuk. If you rent a bike note that both Şirince and the House of Mary are up in the hills.

See

Legend of the Seven Sleepers
The outline of the story is that during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Decius, around 250 AD, seven young men were accused of Christianity. They were given some time to recant their faith, but instead gave their worldly goods to the poor and retired to a mountain to pray, where they fell asleep. The emperor, seeing that their attitude towards paganism had not improved, ordered the mouth of the cave to be sealed.
Decius died in 251 and many years passed during which Christianity went from being persecuted to being the major religion of the Roman Empire. At some later time — usually, during the reign of Theodosius II (408 - 450) — the landowner decided to open up the sealed mouth of the cave, thinking to use it as a cattle pen. He opened it and found the sleepers inside. They awoke, imagining that they had slept but one day. One of their number returned to Ephesus. He was astounded to find buildings with crosses attached; the townspeople were astounded to find a man trying to spend old coins from the reign of Decius. The bishop was summoned to interview the sleepers; they told him their miracle story, and died praising God.

Selcuk is a good starting place for many excursions and visits in the area.

A major attraction is the Roman city of Ephesus which is located only 4km away from the center of the village. Entrance fee cost 25 TL per person.

The promenade will also take you to the The Temple of Artemis (Artemision). Although it was one of the "Seven Wonders" of the Ancient world, nowadays only a column is left.

On the way there one can also visit the Cave of the Seven Sleepers (see the infobox at right).

The picturesque village of Şirince is located 9km east to Selcuk up in the hills. It offers wonderful views among olive and peach trees as well as several excellent country hotels.

House of the Virgin Mary (Meryem Ana Evi), 10 km south on the hills is claimed to have been the house where Virgin Mary spend her last days in Ephesus. The Vatican declared this place as an official Catholic pilgrimage site.

Pamucak beach

A nice day-tour can take one to the three archeological sites of Priene, Miletus and Dydima, all Roman cities located a little bit south in the coast. Several hotels and pensions offer this tour or you can also rent a van, with driver or not, on your own.

In the city center there are other very interesting spots:

The Byzantine citadel and the remains of St. John Basilica.

The Aqueduct.

The Museum of Ephesus. Contains objects found in the Ephesus excavation at the site. 8TL admission.

Do

A day trip to Şirince (8km out of Selçuk). Nestled in the hills, small little village, narrow winding streets, great wines and lots of small cosy wine bars to try them all out in. Beware staying there though as accommodation is very expensive (90euro)??

Buy

Double Knot Carpets, Corner of Cangiz Topel Cad and Namik Kemal Cad. Run by 20-something locals, this carpet shop is a great place to find a carpet for cheap (prices start under 100 Euro) or just to have a cup of tea. Unlike the shops of Istanbul, the shopkeepers won't pressure you into buying anything, and are glad to offer recommendations on local restaurants and bars or just have a chat. ==Buy== *<buy name="Mehmet and Alibaba Carpet Shop" When visiting Selçuk take the time to stop by Mehmet and Alibaba's carpet shop. Centrally located, right next to the Ephesus Museum, this shop is easy to find and worth it too. Here, at this family run business, you will find the best carpets for the best prices with personable sales people - no pressure here. İf you get hungry from the all the thinking over which carpet(s) are the best for you, stop in next door at the family's Trip Advisor award winning restaruant.

Buy

When visiting Selçuk take the time to stop by Mehmet and Alibaba's carpet shop. Centrally located, right next to the Ephesus Museum, this shop is easy to find and worth it too. Here, at this family run business, you will find the best carpets for the best prices with personable sales people - no pressure here. İf you get hungry from the all the thinking over which carpet(s) are the best for you, stop in next door at the family's Trip Advisor award winning restaruant.

Mehmet and Ali Baba Kebab House, Ataturk mah. 1047 Sok. no: 4 (just across the road from the otogar). Cheap, big portions and very tasty kebabs and desserts. Also complimentary tea and they serve beer.5TL-15TL.

Drink

Dolphin Bar. This is a really cool place. Talip is a great guy & the beer is good.

Pink Bistro Cafe. Ask Mesut the bartender to show you some magic tricks and you'll be entertained for hours. And try some of Simone's famous çay!

Rumeli, 25 Ataturk Mah Cengiz Topel Cadessi., ☎0 232 892 16 93. 24. A fantastic 24 hour restaurant serving traditional Turkish food, normally for Turkish people. It isn't in any guide books as the owner relies on a heavy after midnight trade of locals - but it is a must see. Different corners are assigned different specialities, soup corner, vegeterian corner, etc. The mushroom pide is especially good!cheap!.

Sleep

Please remember that all free shuttles arranged by various hotels usually include a visit to a carpet or Turkish delight shop that pay commission to cover the costs of the transport.

Urkmez hotel[2] Namik Kemal Cad. 20 +90 0232 892 6312. The Ürkmez Hotel is run by the multi-lingual Ozkan Brothers (English, German, Spanish). All rooms are newly decorated and comes with orthopaedic mattresses and most have A/C and private balconies. Starting from 11€p.p incl. breakfast buffet on the roof terrace.

The Australia New Zealand (Turkish) Guesthouse[4] has clean rooms with private bathrooms. Great atmosphere, drinks and dinner on the roof-top terrace. Twin room €8.50. Offers complimentary pick-up from Kusadasi and rides to Ephesus.

Homeros Pension is a old house converted into a pension which has been richly decorated by the owner, who is a carpenter. The rooms are full of charm and the meals, prepared by the sister and mother of the owner, are very good. They also provide free transportation to Ephesus and back. Phone: 892 3995 and e-mail: homeros_turkey@hotmail.com

Atilla’s Getaway, info@atillasgetaway.com (2km from Selcuk centre in the village of Acarlar), ☎+90 (232) 892 3847, [6]. Has a spring water swimming pool surrounded by fruit trees and gardens. Free shuttle buses to Selçuk/Ephesus, as well as free pick up from Kuşadasi Ferry Port.12 Euro.

Get out

Aphrodisias — To go by public transport, catch a bus to Nazilli to arrive as early in the morning as possible. There's plenty of bus traffic along the highway between Izmir, Aydin and Denizli all day long. From Nazilli, catch a minibus to Karacasu—they leave about every 30 minutes, and are especially reliable in the morning. From Karacasu there are several minibuses a day to Aphrodisias, leaving about every 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!